The increasing availability of commercial high-resolution satellite
imagery opens up vast horizons of remarkable and previously
inaccessible data to the general public.

But it can also provide detailed target information to opposing
forces and erode the element of surprise. As such, it represents a
qualitatively new challenge to war planners.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld this week lamented the exposure of
U.S. forces due to satellite imagery.

"I looked the other day at one of our airfields that we use in the
Middle East, and there was a commercial satellite photograph on one
of the television channels, showing exactly where our fighter
aircraft and where our refueling aircraft were located on that
airport -- this is on a television station -- from a commercial
satellite, showing where our planes were and how they'd move, how one
was there yesterday and was not there today, and noting that,"
Rumsfeld said on August 27.

"Now, can we live with that?" he asked rhetorically about this and
related operational security challenges. "You bet, we'll live with
it." But he added, "I wish we didn't have to live with it." See:

A sampling of the types of satellite images Rumsfeld was discussing
(including perhaps the very one he was referring to) have been made
available by the policy research organization GlobalSecurity.org.

An unofficial military assessment of the "commercial satellite imagery
threat" notes that "even minor adversaries now have the capability to
use militarily relevant satellite imagery against U.S. forces."

The assessment, a paper submitted to the Naval War College by Maj.
Robert A. Fabian, former chief of space control strategy, policy and
doctrine for Air Force Space Command, concludes by proposing
consideration of a "space blockade."

The Marine Corps leadership has added its voice to the chorus of
military officials who are warning against "leaks" of classified
information.

"Classified information concerning operational planning for the global
war on terrorism has recently been published by the national media,"
observed Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Jones in an August 28
message to Marine Corps personnel.

"Some may characterize this as a quote leak end quote. In reality,
intentionally passing classified material to unauthorized recipients
is a crime, whether to the media or foreign intelligence
organizations. Military members who violate this trust will be
prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ),"
General Jones wrote.

See the full text of his message, first reported by Thomas Duffy in
InsideDefense.com, here:

Earlier this month, following the lead of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld,
Army and Air Force officials delivered similar warnings to their
personnel. (SN 82, 8/22/02)

CHINA ISSUES MISSILE EXPORT CONTROL REGULATIONS

On August 25, the People's Republic of China issued its first formal
export control regulations for missiles and related technology. The
U.S. Government praised the move as a contribution towards limiting
missile proliferation.

"We welcome the publication and promulgation by the Chinese on August
25th of controls on missile exports," said State Department spokesman
Richard Boucher on August 26. "It may help advance China's efforts
to prevent the proliferation of dangerous missile technologies."

However, Mr. Boucher said, "the real measure of China's control over
missile-related exports will be the effectiveness with which controls
like these are enforced, and a real reduction in problematic exports
by Chinese entities."

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Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the Federation of American Scientists.

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